POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

COLUMBUS, OHIO –  The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team came up short in an upset bid of Ohio State University, falling 70-62 at Value City Arena on Saturday night.
 
The Knights (2-5) led for most of the first half but were unable to overcome a big second-half burst by the Buckeyes (7-1), who are receiving votes in both Top 25 polls.
 
Making his first collegiate start, freshman forward Kaleb Bishop scored 11 points to go along with a career-high eight rebounds. Darian Anderson led the Knights in scoring with 17 points and dished out a game-high six assists on the night.
 
The Knights shot 39.3 percent from the floor in the loss but were efficient at the free throw line, connecting on 11-of-14 and held their own on the glass, losing the rebounding battle by just two, 35-33.
 
Ohio State knocked down 26-of-52 (50%) from the field and 6-of-15 (40%) from deep. Four Buckeyes scored in double-figures led by Marc Loving's 18 points and 17 from Kam Williams. Junior forward Jae'Sean Tate double-doubled in the victory with 12 points and 12 boards.
 
Following the game, head coach Greg Herenda said, "Ohio State made the critical run in the beginning of the second half and made so many tough shots but tonight we played with great purpose and poise. Tonight, we stuck to the script and competed for 40 minutes."
 
Herenda continued, "Kaleb stepped up for us in his first collegiate start and we went toe-to-toe with them on the glass. Their length and ability to make contested shots was just too much to overcome.
 
Both teams started 2-for-7 from the field but the Knights held a 10-8 lead with 12:30 to play following a three-pointer by Bishop. The freshman forward netted seven of the Knights' first 14 points of the game.
 
The Knights built their largest lead of the game, 21-15, with 6:45 to play after Stephan Jiggetts connected from distance.
 
After the Buckeyes quickly deleted the deficit, the closing minutes of the half featured a see-saw battle as the two teams traded trifectas with Anderson, Darnell Edge and Malik Miller connecting from downtown for FDU before a three by Marc Loving finally put the Buckeyes up by one, 33-32 in the final minute.
 
The Knights led for the majority of the half and forced nine first-half turnovers but the Buckeyes shot 45.8 percent from the field. FDU was able to overcome a 37.5 percent shooting clip by connecting on 6-of-14 (42.9%) from downtown and preventing the Buckeyes from registering any second chance points.
 
Anderson paced the Knights at the break with eight points but converted just two of his 11 attempts. The junior guard who's been efficient all season, finished the game 4-of-17 (23.5%) for a season-low field goal percentage.
 
Loving netted 13 to pace the Buckeyes, while Kam Williams added 10 in the half.
 
Ohio State started fast out of the locker room with seven straight points including an alley-oop to Trevor Thompson and a three-point play by Loving before a pair of free throws by Anderson temporarily stopped the spurt. But the Buckeyes continued to surge as they extended the run to 18-2 to open the half.
 
The huge swing resulted in the Buckeyes' largest lead of the game -- 17 points -- before the Knights clawed back to within single-digits, 57-48, highlighted by a soaring, two-handed putback dunk by Bishop. After a Buckeye bucket, Anderson knocked down a three-pointer, which pulled the Knights within eight, 59-51, with 7:18 to go in regulation.
 
Over the remaining five minutes, the Buckeyes answered each Knights' comeback attempt – which saw the Knights close to within six -- held on for the eight-point victory.
 
"These are the games in these kinds of arenas that help us so much in our league play and in March as well. The loss stings right now but that game will pay dividends for us in the long run."
 
The Knights return to action with their final non-conference home game of the season, this Wednesday, December 7 against Iona College at 7 p.m.